Five Lamps, Derby

This is a great street corner pub with an opened up layout that wraps around a sizeable peninsula servery. The bar has blocky wood panel frontage to its counter, a matching canopy with the beer range and various other drink options listed across it, and a nice hop-lined, mirrored bar back. Seating is available around the perimeter of the room, with ample space between it and the bar for vertical drinkers. Button backed banquetes line much of the wall space, including some that have been formed into booths over to the right, but high stools and simple chairs are also available in good numbers. Some of the booths have been partitioned by nice leaded, stained glass screens, whilst the walls have near full height panelling, especially at the rear of the room, augmented by plain mirrors, local photographs and swathes of fancy wallpaper which add some colour. A raised seating area to the front right is accessed via a couple of steps beneath an archway which is flanked by some large potted plants. I spotted a couple of TV screens, both of which were switched off on a Saturday evening. The ale range was very extensive, to the point that I couldn’t manage to note everything down, only recording the availability of Oakham Citra, Everards Tiger, Blue Monkey infinity. Abbeydale Dissolution IPA, Draught Bass, Thornbridge Brother rabbit and maybe four or five others. The bar staff were all very friendly and seemed really switched on, which helped minimise waiting time at the bar on a very busy evening. My pint of Oakham Citra was in great nick - probably the best pint I had on this thirteen-pub crawl. I really liked this place, which I thought had a nice balance between traditional ale house and something a bit more contemporary in feel that clearly appealed to a younger crowd too. The great beer and efficient service were also standout features, making this another great pub in Derby’s strong pub scene.

Five Lamps is a traditionally decorated single room Everard’s pub with a long curved central bar that faces seating around the exterior walls. I counted 19 hand pumps, those in operation were drawing Wilde Child’s Brownie Hunter, Hopback’s Summer Lightening, Dancing Duck Brewery’s Quack to the Future and Ay Up, Anarchy Brew Co’s Flat Out IPA, Salopian’s Darwin’s Origin, Everard’s Tiger, Thornbridge’s Leerie’s Tipple and Bass alongside five real ciders. I went for the Quack and Summer Lightening which were both well served by the friendly chap running the bar. Craft keg was also available, as were free dog treats for our flappy eared friends. Human food is also available, but I think the kitchen was closed during my Tuesday evening visit so I didn’t get to peruse a menu. I liked it in here and would have no issue returning for a longer stay.

Heading out of the city centre, this is a fairly large pub with a large selection of both cask ales and craft beers. Being a warm day, we left the main bar behind to head for an outdoor area at the rear of the pub. Regular beers here are Bass, Thornbridge Leerie's Tipple & Everard's Tiger. The pub was featuring a Castle Rock tap takeover and had their Harvest Pale, Elsie Mo, Suntrap, Steal My Sunshine, Preservation & Screech Owl. Also on were Dancing Duck Ay Up, Thornbridge Market Porter, Oakham Bishop's Farewell, Brew York Make It Columbus & Shiny Disco Balls. Ciders were Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Snail's Bank Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Cider, Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer & Weston's Rosie's Pig. Craft beers were Beavertown Neck Oil, Thornbridge Green Mountain, Verdant Light Bub, Castle Rock DDH Pale, Black Iris Cherry King, New Bristol Cinder Toffee & Everard's Cast No Shadow & New World IPA. A number of our party indulged in various bar snacks, including a roll found with mould in it. It was duly replaced with the cost returned. Despite the snack faux-pas, this seems to be a good pub with a great drinks selection.

Another good pub on the edge of town. A single room wrapped around a central curved bar, nicely furnished with some plush leather button back bench seating and wood panel walls. Plenty of beer available with fourteen handpumps in total with eleven in use on my visit. I only had time for the one ,choosing Blue Monkey Infinity. Very nice pub worth tying in with The Furnace about five minutes walk away.

Built on the site of, or formerly named (1883) St Helen's Inn, this pub is a Georgian-styled brick and stone Everard's pub with front and back patio areas. The interior has a U-shaped open room curved around the bar, has part wood panel, with copious tankards and jugs for decoration, along with prints for interest. There was a TV (not on). There were 11 pulls advertised, with the Derby Beer Co Business as Usual, Everard's Tiger and the Peak Brewery Chatsworth Gold all being decent. The service was fine and the food, I just had a build your own burger, was perfectly OK. Visited here a few times over the last few years as Soupette no2 is at Uni in Derby, but this is no student pub. A better than solid performer and worth a visit.

Very functional, yet perfectly formed, locals pub. I dont know how Derby seems to carry over the quantity of pubs and the quantity of beer they serve. Another 8 available here. TT Landlord in great condition. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2w1lOlC